The French do a lot of things well. A few things that immediately come to mind are art, architecture, literature, fashion, the Paris Métro, technology (yes, technology), and of course, food and cuisine. I would also throw in the French art de vivre, in other words, their style of living. They work to live rather…

In France, the morning meal tends to be a simple affair. While dinner can span several courses and three or more hours, le petit déjeuner (breakfast) generally consists of two things: some sort of bread and coffee. Of course, you can buy a variety of cereals at the grocery store in France. But you won’t…

Hidden treats and treasures abound in Paris. The tiny garden at the Musée Delacroix is a secret outdoor room in the middle of the busy Left Bank.* In the Marais, you can exit the southwest corner of the Place des Vosges through a not-so-obvious stone passage into the 17th century Hôtel de Sully and the…

French cuisine owes much of its reputation to two simple precepts: Eat in season. Eat locally. What does that mean exactly? Well, a French restaurant in France worth its salt would not dream of serving une entrée (a starter) of tomatoes and mozzarella in the dead of winter. And even if it were on the…

Chiner (shee-nay): To hunt or look for antiques. Je chine Tu chines Il / Elle chine Nous chinons Vous chinez Ils / Elles chinent One of my favorite pastimes while traveling anywhere but especially in France is to go antiquing, or chiner. When I see signs that say “Antiquités” (high end antiques), “Brocante” (second-hand goods),…

Last week’s parting thought on the French feminine mystique was to give up the cosmetics and go for inner beauty à la française (French style). While I am a firm believer that attitude and self-confidence are at the heart of the French woman’s perpetual allure, I must admit les Françaises have some beauty secrets that…

A favorite Paris passe-temps (pastime) for both residents and visitors alike is sitting in one of the ubiquitous sidewalk cafés and people watching. An international metropolis such as Paris offers an endless parade of people from all walks of life, all backgrounds and all styles. From traditional B.C.B.G. types to avant garde artists to colorfully-attired…

Wine-it’s what’s for dinner. Well, not really. But when you are out to dinner with two experts on wine and liqueurs, it can quickly become the centerpiece of the evening. In the spirit of facilitating a French connection, Mark Monfrey, a Dallas-based expert on specialty and handcrafted beverages from around the world, introduced me to…

Every once in a while, an ad campaign captures an idea better than a host of tomes or pundits. I was running through Roissy airport several times last year to catch flights from the U.S. down to the south of France when I was stopped in my tracks by a series of larger than life…